Fuse clip



Nov. 22, 1966 w. 500 3,287,690

FUSE CLIP Filed Feb. 4, 1965 F I6; I

INVENTOR. WALTER R. BOOK FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to a fuse clip, and more particularly, it relates to a fuse clip having a partially cut integral thin marginal strip along the side edge of at least one of the two arms on both end edges of the clip which is readily bendable from the respective arm to a position substantial- 1y within the space between the arms at one end to obstruct longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned there:

Fuses of the ferrule contact 'typeare commonly held at their marginal end portions between a pair of spaced fuse clips. These fuse clips basically are constructed of a pair of resilient arms which are spaced so that the fuse can be clipped therebetween. Once mounted in a pair of fuse clips, the fuse generally will not easily pop out of the resilient grip of the clips but can slide longitudinally between the pair of clips and destroy the proper electrical contact therebetween. For this reason, fuse clips generally have flanges or protrusions extending from one side edge which extends within the space between the respective arms of the clips to obstruct longitudinal movement of the fuse therebetween.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fuse clip which is an improvement over fuse clips of the general character described in that a thin integral marginal portion along an arm on each side of the clip is cut so that it is readily bendable into the space between the arms to provide an obstruction to longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned therein. Broadly stated, the invention relates to a fuse clip for holding one end portion of a fuse mechanically and electrically connected which is formed from a continuous metal strip. The fuse clip is characteriz-ed by a pair of upstanding resilient and electrically conductive metal arms defined by opposite end portions of the strip positioned in opposed spaced relationship to each other to hold an end portion of a fuse therebetween. A base portion is defined by the fold between the arms, and elongated cuts extend from the end edge portions of the strip along opposite marginal side edge portions of the strip to define a partially cut integral thin marginal strip along the side edge of at least one of the two arms on both end edges of the clip which is readily bendable from the respective arm to a position substantially within the space between the arms at one end to obstruct longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned therein.

The fuse clip is an improvement in that each side edge of each clip is provided with a marginal portion which can be bent to form the obstacle. This facilitates assembly of the fuse holder in that it eliminates any requirement of care in positioning the obstacle portion on the extreme edges of the pair of clips in the fuse holder assembly. Also, the thin marginal portion is integral with the arm and corresponds to the general configuration of the arm, therefore, good electrical contact and mechanical gripping will be preserved as the thin marginal portion which is not folded in assembly will function as an integral portion of the fuse clip. Finally, the bendable marginal portion is coextensive with the arm and is, therefore, economical to manufacture due both to the saving of material and the elimination of steps required for fabrication.

A preferred embodiment of the invention in described hereinbelow with reference to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a fuse holder assembly with a ferrule type fuse positioned therein;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along lines 27-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a fuse holder assembly before positioning a fuse therein.

Two fuse clips 10 and 11 are used in the fuse holder assembly, and as they are identical in construction, description of one will also serve as an adequate description of the other. The fuse clip 10 is basically constructed of a continuous rectangular strip of metal having a pair of upstanding resilient and electrically conductive metal arms 12 and 13 defined by opposite end portions of the strip folded in opposed spaced relationship to each other to .hold an end portion 14 of a fuse therebetween. A substantially flat base portion 15 of .the clip 10 is defined by the fold between the arms. Each ofthe arms 12 and 13 has a bottom portion 16 and 16' inwardly inclined toward the other arm, an intermediate arcuate portion 17 and 17 which conforms to the contour of the marginal end portion of the fuse for making flush contact with a fuse seated therein, and an outwardly flared marginal end portion 18 and 18' whichis flared away from the other arm to facilitate insertingv the fuse therebetween.

Elongated cuts 19 and 20. are shown extending from the end edge portions 21 and 22 of the strip and terminating substantially at the juncture 23 and 24 between the arcuate portion and the bottom portion of the arm to define partially cut integral thin marginal strips 25 and 26 along the side edge of at least one of the two arms on both end edges of the clip which are readily bendable from the respective arm to a position substantially within the space between the arms at one end to obstruct longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 2, the clip is mounted in aligned spaced relationship on a board 27 by means of eyelets 28 which extend through the board and the base portion and have their heads 29 flattened to secure the fuse clips to the board.

In assembling, the clips are positioned on the board in the manner just described and are spaced to receive the marginal end portions of the fuse as shown in FIG. 1. The fuse is snapped into the clips so that the marginal ends thereof are in flush contact with the arcuate portions of the arms of the clip. Then the marginal strips positioned on each end edge of the clip are bent down toward the other arm and extend in the space therebetween as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to obstruct longitudinal movement of the fuse therein.

Obviously the fuse clips described can be mounted on the board without regard to placing one end outermost in the assembly in order to provide the necessary obstruction to longitudinal movement of the fuse. Each clip provides a marginal portion along each end edge of the clip which can be bent down to provide the obstruction. Thus, the fuse clip is unique in that it combines the utmost in simplicity of construction with the functional versatility never heretofore enjoyed with this relatively standard article of manufacture.

I claim:

1. A fuse clip for holding one end portion of a fuse mechanically and electrically connected thereto which is formed from a continuous metal strip comprising a pair of upstanding resilient and electrically conductive metal arms defined by opposite end portions of the strip positioned in opposed spaced relationship to each other to hold an end portion of a fuse therebetween, a base portion defined by the fold between the arms and elongated cuts extending from the end edge portions of the strip along opposite marginal side edge portions of the strip to define a partially cut integral thin marginal strip having a free end along the side edge of at least one of the two arms on both end edges of the clip which are readily benadable from the respective arm to a position substantially within the space between the arms at one end to obstruct longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned there- 1n.

2. A fuse clip for holding one end portion of a fuse mechanically and electrically connected thereto which is formed from a continuous metal strip comprising a pair of upstanding resilient and electrically conductive metal arms defined by opposite end portions of the strip positioned in opposed spaced relationship to each other to hold an end portion of a fuse therebetween, each of said arms having an arcuate portion for making flush contact with the fuse and an outwardly flared marginal end portion to facilitate inserting the fuse therebetween, a base portion of said clip defined by the fold between the arms, and elongated cuts extending from the end edge portions of the strip along opposite marginal side edge portions of the strip to define a partially cut integral thin marginal strip having a free end along the side edge of at least one metal arms defined by opposite end portions folded in opposed spaced relationship to each other to hold an 30 end portion of a fuse therebetween, a substantially flat A base portion of said clip defined by the fold between the arms, each of said arms having a bottom portion inwardly inclined toward the other arm, an intermediate arcuate portion for making flush contact with a fuse seated therein, and an outwardly flared marginal end portion flared away from the other arm to facilitate inserting the fuse therebetween and elongated cuts extending from the end edge portions of the strip along opposite marginal side edge portions of the strip and terminating substantially at the juncture between the arcuate portion and the bottom portion of the arm, to define a partially cut integral thin marginal strip having a free end along the side edge of at least one of the two arms on both end edges of the clip which are readily bendable from the respective arm to a position substantially within the space between the arms at one end to obstruct longitudinal movement of a fuse positioned therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,915 9/1923 Nedr a 339258 1,953,807 4/1934 Jackson 61; a1 339 459 2,086,727 7/1937 Morris 339 258 X 2,777,118 1/1957 Sundt 339256 X FOREIGN PATENTS 832,402 4/1960 Great Britain.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FUSE CLIP FOR HOLDING ONE END PORTION OF A FUSE MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED THERETO WHICH IS FORMED FROM A CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP COMPRISING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING RESILIENT AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE METAL ARMS DEFINED BY OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF THE STRIP POSITIONED IN OPPOSED SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER TO HOLD AND END PORTION OF A FUSE THEREBETWEEN, A BASE PORTION DEFINED BY THE FOLD BETWEEN THE ARMS AND ELONGATED CUTS EXTENDING FROM THE END EDGE PORTIONS OF THE STRIP ALONG OPPOSITE MARGINAL SIDE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE STRIP TO DEFINE A PARTIALLY CUT INTEGRAL THIN MARGINAL STRIP HAVING A FREE END ALONG THE SIDE EDGE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO ARMS ON BOTH END EDGES OF THE CLIP WHICH ARE READILY 